Head coach Richie McKay released a statement on Monday, on behalf of his program, notifying the press and fans that the Flames would not be participating in any post-season tournaments. This serves as the official conclusion for their season, now giving us the ability to make a full assessment of this year, along with future predictions.
The fans’ response after the loss on Saturday was varied. There are the usual extremes, calling for something as egregious as the termination of McKay. This year has been an interesting year for fans on social media. There has been a lot of clamoring about attendance and about the desire for a more rabid basketball fan base. While no program is perfect, Coach McKay, his staff, and the players have given us many reasons to be grateful fans. This season marks yet another for the Flames playing nationally televised games, competing at a high level, and demonstrating the elite potential of their program.
Looking Back
As we look back on this season, it’s important to focus on the many reasons to be appreciative of what we watched. This year’s team was relatively inexperienced with only two seniors. Freshmen and Sophomores were consistently getting a large number of minutes and being called upon in key moments. Can you imagine being 18 or 19 years old and having the weight of a conference title and streak of three straight championships bearing down as you try to shoot a high 30 or low 40 percent from three? What the underclassmen did this season hints at their maturity, which will be covered a little later on.
Support is growing. Each season, a new number of fans (even if it is a smaller number than what we would desire) take more notice of what is happening with the program. Personalities like Darius McGhee help this, of course. A team that has one of the best scorers in the nation is going to draw the attention of more fans, and the hope is that their attention is kept. Whether it was Darius’ 48 point game against Florida Gulf Coast (and his carrying of the team to victory), or his electric showing in the Diamond Head Classic Tournament over Christmas, those kinds of performances let our own fan base know that Liberty Basketball is a nationally respected opponent.
McGhee wasn’t the only member of the program who succeeded this season. The Flames made a statement when they trounced the Missouri Tigers in Liberty Arena. That was the same Tiger team that Auburn barely beat later in the season. While the Flames’ record wasn’t what was predicted, there were some shining moments of victory within the 22-11 season that will not soon be forgotten.
Liberty Arena is perfectly built for the program that Coach McKay is establishing. The intimate, yet intense setting models the character of the Flames. This year marked the first season fans were able to fully enjoy the new environment. Within a matter of a year, memories were made that will not soon be forgotten (remember Darius erasing Dunn-Martin’s scoring mark in the Arena just one game later?) The game against Missouri that I just mentioned was a sell-out crowd that energized the men to take it to the Tigers, unlike their earlier performance against fellow SEC opponent, the LSU Tigers. It serves as proof that when the stakes are high, the fans can (and do) absolutely show up!
Looking Forward
This year was what I call an interim year. It would be inaccurate to say it was a rebuilding year. Programs don’t have reliable, competitive underclassmen competing well enough to have a 22-11 record when they’re rebuilding. It wasn’t a peak year, obviously. The Flames would have gone on to capitalize on a fourth ASUN title if that was the case.
Considering this was the aforementioned interim year, there are many lessons the men have learned, and experience gained is never a negative. The Flames learned the importance of a well-rounded offense. They did not have offensive confidence in the ASUN Tournament this season, and it showed in the load that McGhee was required to bear against Lipscomb and Bellarmine.
Some of this is simply a matter of timing. Players can’t magically develop over one season, but it is an emphasis that stuck out like a sore thumb. The Flames will likely see this as a challenge, and I expect some of their key players to develop offensive skill sets that will surprise us next season. One of the aspects of the program I am most excited about next season is seeing how the men play as a team offensively. I cherished Darius’ impressive individual talent, but I personally love a four-player offensive output. Variety is the spice of life, so I am hopeful a fresh offense will encourage our spirits as fans.
As we all know, offense is only half of the recipe. Liberty’s defense had some high and low moments this year. Consider with me the potential of Shiloh Robinson, Joseph Venzant, Isiah Warfield, and I will add Rode as a defensive dark horse (he is often assigned forwards and centers who are bigger than the 6’7″ Kentucky-native). We do not know their full potential, but I can assure you it’s certainly a defense that can compete on a national scale. I tweeted towards the end of the season that I am confident Venzant has a chance to lead the nation in steals his junior and/or senior seasons. The Flames are a program built around defensive superiority, and those four young men I previously mentioned have everything it takes to achieve that level of excellence.
And that brings me to my final emphasis: McKay has set the bar at excellence. There will be fans who are impatient towards this end. They will clamor for the Flames to take part in weak post-season tournaments, to recruit poor representations of the program, or whatever compromise they think might lead to a more prominent program. But, McKay’s denying of post-season play makes it clear to the ASUN, the nation, and the fans, they do not settle. There will be no settling on defense, in recruiting, and in the level of competition the program can achieve.
This is what Liberty University is all about, right? Excellence at every level. Excellence in how the fans handle themselves, online and in person. Excellence in how the young men compete – with class and confidence. Excellence in press conferences and in national tournaments. Liberty’s mission is excellence because Christians can and do achieve excellence, even in basketball. I believe the future is bright because we have a leader committed to achieving just that, and I believe they will in due time.
